Sassi de Matera Guided Tour

The Sasso Barisano and the Sasso Caveoso are the districts that make up the historic centre of Matera. On this guided tour of the Sassi, we'll see their houses and churches carved into the rock.

Sassi de Matera Guided Tour

We'll meet at the designated time in Piazza Pascoli. The tour begins with an introduction to familiarize ourselves with Matera's history, architecture, and anthropological significance.

Next, we will head to Civita, the highest point of the Sassi of Matera, observing key monuments such as the baroque churches of Purgatorio and San Francesco d'Assisi during our walk.

We'll proceed through Via delle Beccherie, an historic shopping street, to Piazza Vittorio Veneto, where we will see the 19th-century fountain built by King Ferdinand II and enjoy a panoramic view of the Sasso Barisano.

In Sasso Barisano, we'll explore an underground space, known as a 'hypogeum', and enter a cave house to learn about peasant life until the 1950s. Following this, a visit to a handicraft workshop will feature pieces made of tuff.

We will then walk to Sasso Caveoso to visit a rock-hewn cave church from the Italo-Greek period, containing icons from the 10th to 13th centuries.

Before concluding, we will have a tasting of typical products of Matera, which will vary by season.

The tour will last for three hours in total.